Stenographic machine



Oct. 7, 1958 l. KATz 2,855,082

l STENOGRAPHIC MACHINE Filed March ll, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIGLl 25/"ff l/ g "W Ill l l I l I l ,y u 5 n I r I I I i i I i l n I I i I i f 5I i I IN VEN TOR.

Oct. 7, 1958 l. KATZ STENOGRAPHIC MACHINE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March11, 1957 FIG- 5 IN VEN TOR.

TS500/FE HHTZ FIG. 6

United States lPatent O rce STEN'OGRAPHIC MACHINE Isadore Katz, WestHaven, Conn.

Application March 11, 1957, Serial No. 645,334 v 3 Claims. (Cl. 197-9)My invention relates to stenographic machines of the type which is usedto phonetically record the spoken word.

The stenographic machines now commonly used have certain disadvantageswhich my invention aims to avoid. The disadvantage most conspicuous,also the most important from the standpoint of the speed of recording,is that there is an appreciable time delay from the touching of the keysto the actual printing of the letters. This is due to the fact that inthe conventional stenographic machines the major part of the downstrokeof the keys is used for the advancing of the paper strip and the actualprinting occurs only at the end of the stroke. As this time delay isrepeated every time one or more keys are depressed it represents aserious handicap for a stenographic machine in which the speed of therecording is obviously of prime consideration.

The advancing of the paper strip by the downward stroke of the keys hasalso the additional disadvantage that the letters and figures printed atthe end of the stroke are not visible until the keys are again depressedto print the next line, This means that the operator can check theprinted record of a phonetic code only when his mind is already`occupied with the recording of the next code.

In addition to the advancing of the paper strip the downward stroke ofthe keys is utilized in the conventional machines for the advancing ofthe inked ribbon and, in case of numerals, simultaneously the type barshave to be raised; as all these operations receive their motive powersolely from the fingers of the operator, they are a source ofconsiderable fatigue.

One of the important objects of my invention is to provide astenographic machine in which the advancing of the paper strip, theadvancing of the inked ribbon, and the raising of the type bars areperformed by electrical power and which requires only a light touch ofthe keys for its operation, thereby enhancing greatly the ease ofoperation.

Another important object of my invention is to provide a stenographicmachine which prints the letters instantly, without any time delay, atthe touch of the keys, and utilizes the pause, naturally existingbetween spoken words and sentences, for advancing the paper strip andthe inked ribbon, thereby increasing the speed of operation of themachine.

A further object of my invention is to provide a stenographic machine inwhich the printed record becomes visible immediately after the printing,thereby permitting the inspection of the record prior to the typing ofthe following line.

Other objects and advantages of my invention will be apparent during thecourse of the following description.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this application,wherein, for the purpose of illustration is shown a preferred example ofmy invention,

Figure l is a sectional view of my stenographic machine,

2,855,082 Patented oct. 7, s

Figure 2 is a side elevational view of the type bar raising and loweringmechanism,

Figure 3 is a side elevational view of the paper strip advancingmechanism,

Figure 4 is a plan View of the ribbon advancing mechanism,

Figure 5 is a plan view of my stenographic machine,

Figure 6 is a diagram of the electrical circuits employed in mystenographic machine.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 5 of the drawing, the numeral 1 designates theframe of my stenographic machine. Rotatably mounted on this frame is theplaten 2, carrying the paper strip 3; the pressure roller 4 serves tocreate the necessary traction between the platen and the paper strip.The advancing of the paper strip is obtained by the rotation of theplaten, which is accomplished by the mechanism shown in Fig. 3. Thispaper advancing mechanism, in the preferred form of my invention,consists of a ratchet drive 5', connected, by the lever 6, to the platenadvancing spring 7 and the platen solenoid 8, in such a manner that whenthe solenoid 8 is energized, it will tension the spring 7, and when thissolenoid is deenergized the tensioned spring '7 will turn the platen 2by means of the ratchet drive 5, and thereby will advance the paperstrip 3.

Disposed in front of the platen 2 is the inked ribbon 9, wound aroundthe drums 1i and 11. The ribbon 9 is advanced by the rotation of theratchet drive 12 by means of the ribbon advancing mechanism, illustratedin Fig. 4, which, in the preferred form of my invention, comprises theribbon advancing spring 14, and the ribbon solenoid 15 operativelyconnected to the ratchet drive 12 by the lever 13 in such a manner thatwhen the solenoid 15 is energized, it will tension the spring 14, andwhen this solenoid is deenergized, the tension spring 14 will rotate thedrum 10 by means of the ratchet drive 12, thereby advancing the ribbon9.

Disposed in front of the platen 2, with the ribbon 9 interposed, are thetype bars 16, which are pivotally mounted on the movable shaft 17, whichmay be raised and lowered by the type bar raising and lowering mechanismillustrated in Fig. 2 of the drawing.

The reason for the raising and the lowering of the type bars 16 is thateach type bar is provided with two types to print either a letter or anumeral, depending on the position of the type bar with respect to theplaten 2. In the preferred form shown in Fig. l the type bars 16 willprint letters when they are in the lowered position, indicated by thefull lines, and they will print numerals when the movable shaft "i7,together with the type bars 16, are raised by the arms 19 and theconnected rocking shaft 18.

This rocking shaft 18 is rotatably mounted in the frame 1 of the machineand carries at one end the lever 20, `one end of which is linked to thetype solenoid 21 and the other end to the return spring 22, shown inFig. 2. When this solenoid 21 is energized, it will move the lever 20into the dotted line position causing the connected rocking shaft 1S andarms 19 to raise the movable shaft 17 and the type bars L6 into theLipper position, in which the type bars will print numerals. When thesolenoid 21 is deenergized the spring 2?. will return the lever 20 andthe connected parts together with the type bars into the letter printingposition.

An important element in this arrangement is the switch 23, shown in Fig.2, which is operatively connected to the rocking shaft 18 so as to closea circuit when the type bars are raised into the numeral printingposition.

ribbon 9 interposed, thereby effecting the printing on the paper strip 3either of a letter or a numeral, depending on the position of the typebar raising and lowering mechanism.

The spring 26 serves to swing the type bars back against the stop 27,when the type solenoids 24 are deenergized. The radial offsetting of thetype solenoids and the springs 26 is necessary due to the very closespacing of the type bars 16. (See Fig.

Mounted on the frame 1 or the machine are the keys 23, each forming abox with a hinged top supported by a spi-ing, as shown in Fig. l, sothat the top can be depressed by a light touch of the fingers. Attachedto the top is a movable contact which, when the top of the key 28 isdepressed, will be pressed against two stationary contacts secured tothe base of the box, thereby functioning as a switch, closingsimultaneously two circuits when the key is depressed. The schematicarrangement of this switch of the key 28 is shown in Fig. 6 of thedrawing, in which the arrow represents the movable contact secured tothe top of the key. Each stenographic machine has usually 24 keys, whichin my invention are perfect duplicates for economical manufacturing andfor easy replaceability. Mounted on the frame l in the rear of the keysis the numeral bar 29, which has also a hinged top and a switchcontaining a movable and two stationary contacts, schematicallyillustrated in Fig. 6, so arranged that in the normal or undepressedposition of the numeral bar 29 the movable contact is pressed againstone of the stationary contacts, and in the depressed position of the bar29 the movable contact swings over to the other stationary contact,thereby functioning as a single pole double throw switch.

Fig. 6 shows a diagrammatic view of the electrical cir* cuitsoperatively interconnecting the various switches and solenoids of mystenographic machine.

As an auxiliary feature, there is a paper compartment 30 in the centralpart of the frame l. with a drawer like extension 31, shown in Figs. land 5.

In Fig. 6 the numerals designate the following elements: 32 and 33 arethe terminals of the electric Supply, 24 the type solenoids; 2S thekeys, the arrows indicating the movable contacts; 29 the switchassociated with the numeral bar, the full line representing theundepressed position of the numeral bar and the dotted line thedepressed position; 21 and 23 the type bar raising solenoid and theassociated switch, respectively, the full line representing the letterprinting position of the type bar raising mechanism, and the dottedlines the numeral printing position of the mechanism, (see Fig. 2); 8 isthe platen solenoid, shown in Fig. 3; and l5 is the ribbon solenoid,shown in Fig. 4. The diagram shows only four of the keys and theassociated type solenoids as the same arrangement and connection isduplicated for the remaining keys and type solenoids.

The operation of my stenographic machine is as follows:

In stenotyping each phonetic code is printed in a separate line and isobtained by the simultaneous depressing of one or more keys. In case ofnumerals the numeral bar is depressed simultaneously with one or morekeys.

Referring to Fig. 6, in my machine the printing of a letter code isaccomplished as follows: The operator depresses the required keysclosing the corresponding switches 28 so that the arrow in the diagramtouches the two stationary contacts, thereby energizing thecorresponding type solenoids 24 causing the printing of thecorresponding letters; simultaneously the closed switches 28 willenergize the platen solenoid S and the ribbon solenoid l5 causing thetensioning of the associated springs 7 and 14, respectively; as soon asthe keys are released by the operator, solenoids 8 and 15 will bedeenergized and the spring 7 will advance the paperstrip 3 and thespring 14 will advance the ribbon 9 without delay and without any effortfrom the operator. The

speed of this advancing can be regulated by the selection of the propersprings, and it may be much greater than can be obtained by the use ofthe lingers of the operator as the motive power.

When printing a numeral, the numeral bar 29 is dcpressed simultaneouslywith one or more keys 28, with the result that the solenoids 8, 15, and21 will be instantly energized, the latter solenoid closing the switch23, and thereby causing the instantaneous energization of the typesolenoids 24 corresponding to the depressed keys.

The important features in the operation of my machine are: theinstantaneous printing, the effortless operation of the keys, requiringonly a light touch of the lingers, the visibility of the printed recordimmediately after the printing, and the electrical actuation of thepaper and ribbon advancing and of the raising of the type bars.

It is to be understood that the form of my invention herein shown anddescribed is only an example of the same and that various changes in thesize, shape, and arrangement of parts may be resorted to, withoutdeparting from the spirit of my invention, or the scope of the followingclaims. Particularly, it is within the spirit of my invention tosubstitute solenoids of equivalent function for the springs used.

I claim:

l. A stenographic machine comprising, an electric supply; a rotatableplaten carrying the paper strip; a ratchet drive connected to saidplaten; a platen spring connected to said ratchet drive and adapted torotate said drive and the connected platen, and thereby advance saidpaper strip, when said spring is released from tension; a platensolenoid connected to said platen spring and adapted to tension saidspring when said solenoid is energized and to release said spring whensaid solenoid is deenergized; an inked ribbon disposed adjacent to saidpaper strip carrying platen; a rotatable drum carrying said ribbon; aratchet drive connected to said drum; a ribbon spring connected to saidratchet drive and drum, adapted to rotate said drum, and thereby advancesaid ribbon, when said ribbon spring is released from tension; a ribbonsolenoid connected to said ribbon spring and adapted to tension saidribbon spring when said ribbon solenoid is energized and to release saidspring when said ribbon solenoid is deenergized; a multiplicity of typebars each adapted to impress said platen with said inked ribboninterposed, said type bars having a letter position in which they printletters when impressing said platen, and a numeral position in whichthey print numerals when impressing said platen; type solenoids eachoperatively connected to one of said type bars and adapted to force theconnected type bar to impress the platen, when energized; type springseach connected to one of said type bars and Aadapted to return theconnected type bar from the platen when said type solenoid connected tothe same type bar is deenergized; a multiplicity of keys, eachcontaining an electric switch operatively connected to one of the saidtype solenoids and also to the said platen solenoid and said ribbonsolenoid, said switch being adapted to elect the energization of theconnected solenoids when the key is depressed; a type bar raisingsolenoid mechanically connected to said type bars and adapted to movesaid type bars from the letter position into the numeral position, whenenergized; a spring mechanically connected to said type bars and saidtype bar raising solenoid and being adapted to return said type barsinto the letter position when said type bar raising solenoid isdeenergized; and a numeral bar containing a switch electricallyconnected to said type bar raising solenoid and adapted to effect theenergization of said type bar raising solenoid when said numeral bar isdepressed.

2. The stenographic machine of claim l in which the switch contained insaid numeral bar is adapted to nterrupt the energizing circuit of thesaid type solenoids when said numeral bar is depressed, and the type barraising solenoid is operatively connected to a switch adapted to closethe energizing circuit of said type solenoids when said type bars havemoved into the numeral position, in order to prevent printing during thetransfer of the type bars from the letter position into the numeralposition.

3. A stenographic machine comprising, in combination with a paper stripcarrying platen and an inked ribbon disposed adjacent to said platen; aplaten advancing mechanism, including a platen solenoid and beingadapted to advance said platen and paper Vstrip When the energizingcurrent of said platen solenoid is interrupted; a ribbon advancingmechanism including a ribbon solenoid and being adapted to advance saidribbon when the energizing current of said ribbon solenoid isinterrupted; a multiplicity of type bars, each mechanically connected toa type solenoid and being adapted to impress said platen, with the saidinked ribbon and paper strip interposed, when said connected typesolenoid is energized; a multiplicity of keys, each containing a switchelectrically connected to one of said type solenoids and being adaptedto energize the connected type solenoid and also the said platensolenoid and the said ribbon solenoid when said key is depressed, and tointerrupt the energizing current of these solenoids when said key isreleased; and an electrical supply operatively connected to 10 said'switches and solenoids.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 152,593,371 Watson Apr. l5, i932 FOREIGN PATENTS 120,826 Switzerland June16, 1927

